While dogs have probably been playing with Frisbees for as long as there have BEEN Frisbees to play with, it wasn’t until 1975 that an official canine version of the sport was introduced.

Ashley Whippet was a…you guessed it – Whippet, who was born on June 4th, 1971. Ashley was the companion of a Ohio State University Alum named Alex Stein. Ashley took to Frisbees at the tender age of 6 months, racing after them at speeds of 35 mph and leaping feet into the air to catch them! He was a tremendous hit on campus, so much so that Alex decided to head to Hollywood to break his pooch into show business. Unfortunately that proved harder than Alex figured, so desperate times called for desperate measures.

On August 5th, 1974 Alex sneaked Ashely into Dodgers Stadium (they were playing the Cincinnati Reds) and waited for the right moment to make his move. At the bottom of the 8th inning he ran onto the field with Ashley and started doing a gorilla Frisbee routine. The crowd was amazed and even the announcer- Joe Garagiola – was taken by the dog. He started reporting a play by play of the dogs amazing routine. The moment of fame was tarnished when Alex was arrested for trespassing and fined $250.

However it turned out that Alex’s actions would all be worth it! Word of his moment in the spotlight with Ashley spread and the duo were booked for The Tonight Show and even the Super Bowl Halftime show. At the 1975 World Frisbee Championships the first canine “Catch and Fetch” event was debuted. Ashley took the #1 spot for the next 3 years. In 1982 the event was renamed “The Ashley Whippet Invitational” in his honor. Ashley passed away in 1985 at the age of 14.

2 Responses to “Dogs In History: “Ashley Whippet”- The First Official Frisbee Dog”

As an teenager around that time, my parents had gotten me hooked on whippets and racing them. Shortly after the famous Dodger stadium incident( which I so fondly rennet from tv) Alex and Ashley came out to a whippet race at the Hansen Dam recreation area. Being a dorky teen, I fell all over myself to see Ashley. Alex was kind enough to let me throw frisbee for Ashley!!!! I have never ever forgotten that!!
I will always remember that day and it remains as a very special one to this day!!!!!
My Maggie lived to be 16 years old and she will never be forgotten. Thank you Christine Cormany for the friendship and knowledge you shared with an oh so dorky teen!!!!!